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Tokyo 2020 rugby test event cancelled due to coronavirus
By Online Editors
A wheelchair rugby test event ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games has been cancelled as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.
The Tokyo 2020 organising committee announced on Tuesday that the Japan Para Wheelchair Rugby Championship, which had been due to take place between March 12 and 15, has been called off by the Japan Para Sports Association.
A statement from the organising committee said: "Tokyo 2020 nevertheless will carry out the wheelchair rugby test event in some form in April, after ensuring a safe and secure environment, and will consult with the International Paralympic Committee, International Wheelchair Rugby Federation, and other relevant organisations to determine the new schedule and the content of such tests by the end of March.
“We will continue to stay in close collaboration with all relevant organisations as we prepare to deliver a safe and secure Tokyo 2020 Games.”
The International Olympic Committee's executive board is meeting in Lausanne this week with coronavirus sure to be on the agenda amid fears it could impact this summer's Games where Fiji will be defending their men’s rugby sevens title won in Rio four years ago.
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Rugby Championship set for significant revamp next year
Meanwhile, the BBC are reporting that in a response to a question in Japan's parliament, Japan's Olympic minister Seiko Hashimoto said Tokyo's contract with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) “calls for the Games to be held within 2020”.
She added that "could be interpreted as allowing a postponement”.
The Games are due to be held from 24 July to 9 August. “We are doing all we can to ensure that the Games go ahead as planned,” Hashimoto added.
- Press Association
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Latest Comments
Agreed. And I don't have much more to say on it, but I had been having one thought that sprang to mind at the tail of this discussion, and that is that it's not all about Razor.
It's not about any coach being "right". I think a lot of selections can become defense and while it doesn't really apply here I really enjoyed that Andy Farrell just gave into the public demands and changed out his team for the change that had been asked for. Like why not? This is the countries team, keep them engaged. The whole reason i've only just finished watching the game was because I wasn't interested in watching any of the selected players against a team like Italy (still actually enjoyed the first half with the contest Italy made of it).
Faz leap frogs a younger half back into start. He hands the golden child the game over July's golden child. He gives an old winger a go, a new flanker and hooker. None of them really did any good, certainly not enough to suggest they should have been promoted above others, but who cares? You won, and you gave the country what they wanted, that's all that matters after all. It's for the country, not the one in charge who thinks they have to have their own pied piper tune playing.
Go to commentsAs Naas would say... A win is a win.
It was not perfect and at times frustrating. All 3 tests were not the best by the Boks and they still found ways to win.
Rassie would have noted the sloppyness at times and silly mistakes. The 9's made amateur handling mistakes when clearing the rucks in all 3 tests.
Once the "stupid" mistakes are eliminated, this Bok team will be very very hard to beat.
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